52 Famous Amputees

List of Famous Amputees, loosely ranked by fame and popularity. An amputee is an individual who has lost a body extremity. Some famous actors, musicians and athletes are amputees. Some of these famous people lost limbs due to accidents, while others became amputees because of severe illnesses like diabetes and blood clots.

Who is the most famous person who is an amputee? Heather Mills tops our list. The former Mrs. Paul McCartney lost her leg below the knee in an accident with a police motorcycle in 1993. She appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” and “Dancing on Ice.” There are actually quite a few famous female amputees on this list (some of them are rather sexy too!) Other famous women who are also amputees include surfer Bethany Hamilton, singer Ella Fitzgerald, and actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, a woman who lived until the age of 97.

Outdoorsman Aron Ralston amputated his own arm after he became trapped under a boulder in the middle of Utah in 2003. The film "127 Hours" is based on the experience of the now-one-armed amputee and stars James Franco. Rock climber Hugh Herr lost both of his legs due to frostbite after being stuck in a blizzard for three nights in 1982. Grateful Dead musician Jerry Garcia lost a finger during a wood chopping accident when he was four years old. He did not let the injury stop him from becoming one of the most famous guitar players of all time.

Do you think being an amputee made it more difficult for these celebrities to succeed in their fields? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

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